New developments, new ideas, everything new in the world of VHOD. Sometimes just mindless babble...I'll call this an 'outlet'.

VHOD: Too Late, 2L8

December 27, 2018

I've been hard at work with my music archives of late and although I am working on new material it is fairly slow going at this time....oh, I do have some more wacky projects in the works, though.

Anyway, while riffling through my volumes of musical flotsam and jetsam, I noticed a song which was tracked in September 2011, as part of a tentative project I had dreamed up called CHIDE...though no recording sessions exist, just a handful of mixes. It is, in fact, a song which first came into being back in 2002 while working on my DROL project. It was demoed in 2002 and 2003 and then later expanded upon in 2005. During my formative months after having established VHOD, and trying to find a groove to follow with regards to the musical style of that act, I considered using this track as a pillar stone.

I've always loved the song - though in recent times I have really tried to rework the riffs to reduce the amount of lightheartedness throughout (and I've not been successful). I thought it would be a fun thing to find the best mix and remaster it for release. I know I will never get around to re-recording this track and though the drums are unfortunately programmed I am at an impasse.

Originally, the track was called '2L84F8' and I had initially presented it as such and with an artwork by Earle K. Bergey...though I was met with some resistance on both fronts. 'Too Late For Fate' is now the official title and I've submitted on original photograph as official artwork. Those of you who download the track (for free, by the way) at the above link will find the original image enclosed in the zip folder. I'll post it below as well.

Enjoy!

Artwork by Earle K. Bergey

TRANSIR, Sunderia

October 29, 2018

During the month of October I managed to write and record the second part of the 'Extinctus' series of singles (the first being 2017's 'Subterria') and it will be released November 2, 2018. It is nearly 29 minutes long.

I originally had intended to record and release it immediately after part 1 in late 2017 but a deep decline of inspiration lead me on a less majestic path. I am glad, however, that things happen as they do in these cases. I am extremely pleased with this work in composition, execution and production. I'd say it's my best work to date, in fact, and I certainly consider this a refueling of inspiration for many projects to come.

This piece, especially the last solo at 23:23, is dedicated to my late sister, Jessica Colleen Shaver, who passed earlier this year from a lengthy but admirably fought battle with Huntington's Disease. Yesterday would have been her 40th birthday. RIP Teshie :(

Albums Vs. Singles

October 10, 2018

I recently stated that VHOD would probably not be doing 'full length' albums any longer and instead be releasing singles as they become completed. Not true, kind of, I mean about albums.

I still have a concept to realize which I've called 'Riff Tapes'. In essence this would be a collection of single riffs or some short progressions of riffs all neatly and soundly organized on to a full-length album. Truth is, I've got squillions of riffs recorded on various mediums and this concept would probably yield 2 to 3 volumes at least.

This may not appeal to many...having bits and pieces of riffs without any structure or emotional groove. I would, however, try to arrange them in a fashion which would make some kind of sense. Who knows? This is a ways off at this point but it will happen sooner or later.

In the meantime, VHOD will continue to release singles over the next few months and to get at least a bit of singing in before the end of the year, TRANSIR will be releasing the follow up/sister single to 2017's 'Subterria' called 'Sunderia'.

(Old) New Singles

October 3, 2018

Just out are 2 new singles, Skies Of Old and Raash. Skies was written and tracked just before I began work on 2016's 'Ouija Board Wormhole'. I shelved it because I didn't know what to do with it vocally and I wanted to re-track the drums and do a guitar solo or two. I stumbled on it in my archives and decided just to give it a quick remix and let it rip. No vocals necessary, the drums aren't that terrible and I've got plenty of other guitar solos to choose from if you want to hear one:)

Raash was an experiment I played with right after tracking the 2016 album mentioned above. I don't even know what you would call it. I was thinking about doing something Industrial or techno-ish and this was my practice at putting together some type of rhythmic beat to layer over. Same as above...just a brief remix and off to cyberwaste.

Enjoy.

New Singles

September 28, 2018

Okay, having now adopted this new 'Fringe Metal' instrumental thing, I am pleased to announce the release of the first 2 works in this new 'era'.

Fumarole, which was actually written and recorded back in late June 2018 and which has a very thick and heavy sound, and The Worm That Wore Red, a brand new opus which was written and recorded in September 2018 and which begins with a Black Metal blast and morphs into a Garage Rock/Prog Core sounding thing.

Clearly, I adore Metal, and it will always be my wheelhouse. However, opening up the VHOD (Doors) of perception and expanding in so doing, I now find a long unknown home for some old material, old ideas and a muthafuckin' space-lord-load of new ones.

Path...Pathogen...Pathogenesis

September 11, 2018

Having awoken sometime in August from a troubled sleep, mixed with many a duration of near waking and lucid dreams, I am changed.

I cannot fully explain it, most may not understand it if I could. The dreams comprised of bizarre tribulations and unanswerable riddles. I was visited in some form by every spirit of the dead I once knew, and each was just as strange as they were familiar. Emotion did not exist here, not even fear. A numbness encircled this dreamscape like the ice upon a frozen lake in the most bitter of winters.

So many paradoxical and contradictory colors and textures shaded these dreams and yet upon waking only a singular thought, in fact a word, remained emblazoned in my mind....

"Path."

I am changed. I am the same human being but I am changed. I watched the dust and sands blow by on this plain in the desert of my life but each time I looked to the ground it appeared the same - always the same.

This was nothing new. But it would never be again.

Musically, I knew it was time to bury some metaphorical-corpses. Everything I once knew has changed. Being inspired I tried to write some new music...playing empty chords and toiling over progressions which have been done to death. Ugh. Everything in this world is vomit. Albeit of varying shades and textures, it is all vomit.

PATHOGENESIS is the new album I am currently working on. Due date? I'm not sure. PATHOGENESIS is the culmination of these developments. I trust it will be an alienation to most. This may be career suicide but it feels more like career rebirth. Some may understand, my apologies if you don't.

(Post Script:)

In my reference to vomit? The thing about vomiting is that one can watch it happening and hear it happening and most are no worse for the wear...in fact, some with darker senses of humor may even get a weird thrill or sense of entertainment from witnessing the act. I am no different. But the act of vomiting is one I truly despise and one I will surely try my hardest never to do again...metaphorically speaking.